The World Cup play-off match is at risk of being cancelled.

The Iraqi national team is caught in the middle of the conflict in the Middle East.

Currently, Iraq's chances of qualifying for the intercontinental play-offs are in doubt amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Iraq is scheduled to face the winner of the Bolivia-Suriname match on March 31st in Monterrey, Mexico, to compete for a spot in the 2026 World Cup .

However, the West Asian team's travel was hampered. Following airstrikes by the US, Israel, and Iran , Iraqi airspace was closed, directly impacting the team's movement. Furthermore, the unrest in Mexico also raised safety concerns.

According to The According to The Guardian , FIFA has informed the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) that the play-off match is scheduled to take place as planned. However, a source close to the team admitted they still have many obstacles to overcome.

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In its latest announcement, the IFA stated that head coach Graham Arnold is currently stranded in the UAE due to air travel restrictions. Simultaneously, the temporary closure of many embassies has prevented some players, coaching staff, and medical personnel from completing visa procedures to travel to Mexico. Iraq affirmed that it maintains close contact with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to stay updated on the situation.

In the event that a match cannot take place due to force majeure, Article 6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations will apply. FIFA has the sole discretion to decide on a course of action, including rescheduling the match, changing the format, or implementing other suitable solutions.

The regulations also allow FIFA to replace a team if they withdraw or are eliminated from the tournament. This means the world football governing body can choose another team to take their place, or adjust the group structure.

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Source: https://znews.vn/nguy-co-huy-tran-play-off-world-cup-post1631705.html